SPARK! Definition of The Creative Process

World Creativity and Innovation Week (WCIW) is right around the corner! We’re so excited that we can’t wait until the Creativity Confabon April 21 to announce our definition of the creative process. Here’s a taste of what we’ll be discussing. We identify the “Ations” of the creative process: Inspiration with Iteration and Collaboration lead to Innovation.

At SPARK! we like to use the creation of our Lion Head Door-Knocker Swing as an example of this process.

Inspiration

This is when a dream forms in your mind and your sense of wonder begins telling you what you want to create. For Rolando Diaz, the inspiration for this project came from the natural light shining down on the installation space. He also drew inspiration from lavish door knockers he saw during his travels through Europe.

Iteration

After this vision was translated to paper via sketches, it was drawn and redrawn until Rolando believed it to be a true reflection of his vision. This step can happen over and over again and allows an artist to fully develop an idea. Because of this repetition, we encourage students not to be afraid of failure.

Collaboration

Once the sketch was complete, Rolando worked with artists Byron Zarrabi, James Bauer and Pascale Pryor to create several mini metal mock-ups and later the final product.

Innovation

After returning to the “iteration” step to add additional safety features and artistic accents, the swing was complete. But without inspiration, iteration and collaboration, this truly unique and original swing could not have been its very best. This project is a reminder that all parts of the creative process are equally important and crucial when creating something one-of-a-kind.